Master Bait'r

Lol... Of course it's a terrible investment. Many of life's greatest pleasures are!

This should be regarded as a Public Service Announcement haha

I don't have an actual recorded PB as I don't honestly care all that much and didn't have a scale for a very long time but this is probably the biggest I have a pic of. Tried to lay it next to my rod for comparison but couldn't get the camera far enough away for an accurate pic. Not bad for a Mass pond bass tho!

Will, that is absolutely a thing of beauty. As a craftsman I can really appreciate all the small details you've incorporated and the organization is lab worthy. I am loving all the fine work too! I'd love to see more pics!

Well I missed my TW delivery at my shop because I had to go see a doc... Throat and double ear infection. So instead of tackle unboxing my stoke purchase is meds and chicken noodle soup lol

Thought I was seeing a new Deps 1200 flash carp for a sec haha those are some serious fish!!

I think it's not so much total rod length as it is butt length. I prefer a shorter butt length in the kayak so I don't get in my own way.

Love the kickers and slither k's, but I usually save myself the high drama of recommending a $20 frog on here. Butts get hurt in a hurry sometimes haha

Kind of an ironic conundrum that if you're there to experience the negative effects of this, the fact that you can even live there is pretty much what caused it to begin with, no? Hope it all shakes out though

It is good to see someone else who just rolls with it. When the legs die it just becomes a Live Target on 'roids IMO. I also upsize the hooks on them- they SLAY. That chug and pause kills it.

I double palomar all my braids and Gliss. When you get down to really thin diameter smooth braids like Smackdown they can sometimes slip. Never had a single one go w/ DP. Might be overkill but I don't care. It's my knot.

Keep at it. They work.

Oh that's COLD haha

I believe it's some variation on the king gill pattern but I'm not sure since whoever translated it did a less than stellar job doing so. One left on that auction site fwiw

I'm a sucker for a sexy 110 color Also a pretty nice TW order I'll probably share once it arrives.

Nice gang of straight eyes!

The BB1 is a great all-around reel. From max drag to ergonomics to reel capacity if you can find something it doesn't do well I'd be more surprised than the other way around. I use the BB1 Pro as a Frog/big jig/swimbait/anything else big reel with 40# smackdown. Honestly if you like the looks and the way it palms, just go for it. If you're looking for cons, you won't find many. If you don't already know exactly why you'd want something else, don't worry so much about why other people do. At that price range it's just a question of personal preference.

Ponds up here are panfish fodder unless they're 20'+ deep. I've also caught some of the biggest fish of my life in ponds too. Doesnt really matter though- the basic bass rig would probably be a medium fast rod in the 6'10"-7' range with a spinning reel and ~15# braid or mono if that's your thing. There's a lot you can do with it! From Texas rigs to jigs to cranks and jerks... The world is your oyster. Just get one and start learning stuff!

That fish is all of 7-8lbs. Monster!

Pad crashers and Kopper's Live Target are probably my favorite entry level frogs. I find spros to have fewer hookups despite great action and fit/finishes.

MB's Arms and Superleggera lines come to mind. Not it that the components' functions couldn't be matched by other means, they're just so d**n sexy in a Bugatti Veyron sort of way. My my dream rod is the one with a 25# LMB on the end of it though I do own an NRX and a Phase 3 Destroyer, but if I ever bite the bullet on a swimbait rod I would really like to go custom.

On UL you will be disappointed w 10# power pro. It's big and chunky and loud. Good luck casting 1/16oz! If you NEED braid 10# Smackdown is far and away the smoothest and most supple I've ever seen. My recc is 8# Gliss though. I use it on light action rods and the casting/strength is insane. No stretch and is very supple as well. Pretty cheap too. I use the green but wish they made a black!

Nah. I just small talk and be as nice as possible. As well as always be willing to lend a hand. I like figuring stuff out. Sometimes falling short is what I need too- frustration usually leads to obsession for me. Local knowledge helps for food though for sure!!

Super different! T rig is my biggest comfort zone. You can go deep, stay shallow and match any profile, color and size. T rigs are my jam. From bento minnows to smokin roosters it's a KILLER. Shaky heads are really cool though. I lump Ned rig in with shaky head too, they both rock. That said, it's a bottom presentation only and it excels in clean solid bottoms, neither of which I see with regularity. It's an invaluable presentation though, nothing else makes such a big sexy stationary wiggling target like shaky head except maybe mag drop shotting which I don't really like all that much.

Well I already have a light trailer for my '12 jon boat so you're definitely right- that is happening. I want to Quabbin seal the 12' tho, and that means it would be exclusive to that lake when that happens and I could no longer use it. It was just nice sticking the yak in the hatch, running a ratchet strap through it and being done. I'm just thinking of how to make an integrated dolly/hitch gusset/anchor point dealio to handle all my concerns in one. I like doing that kind of thing. Being inventive and engineering for specific purpose is totally in my wheelhouse. I've got a basic idea in mind already and I'll def share some drawings when I get them down.